Senior Tooling Quality Engineer – Stampings Leader

Slate Auto; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 123,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Vacation

401k

Equity Program

Annual Incentive

Job summary

Slate is seeking a Senior Supplier Tooling Engineer-Stamping to own vendor tooling across stamping, casting, extrusion and soft trim. You will manage tool awards, runoff readiness, PPAP and drive improvements with a focus on quality and on-time launches.

Lead and mentor SQEs, track milestones, evaluate capability data, and protect tooling budgets. This role requires strong communication and a proven auto industry track record in tooling and supplier quality.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equiv. or previous working level experience.
• 8+ years of experience in supplier tooling, tool engineering, or supplier quality with significant hands-on exposure to mold, die, and fixture design, construction, and runoff in an automotive or high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication and supplier relationship skills, with the ability to hold tooling vendors accountable while maintaining productive working partnerships.
• Deep experience across tooling types for varied commodity groups including stampings, castings, extrusions, and structural components.
• Ability to identify tooling root causes for dimensional, cosmetic, or process capability issues and drive timely corrective action through structured problem-solving methods (8D, 5-Why, Ishikawa).
• Strong understanding of tooling program metrics including tool trial status, T1/T2/T3 build milestones, first article acceptance rates, and capacity verification results.
• Proficient in reading and interpreting GD&T, tool drawings, and die/mold design prints; experience working with CMM data, dimensional reports, and capability studies (Cpk, Ppk, Gauge R&R).
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• High level of integrity, with the ability to communicate tooling risk clearly and elevate issues to program leadership without delay.
• Ability to manage multiple tooling programs simultaneously in a fast-paced launch environment, prioritizing effectively under program pressure.

Responsibilities

• Manage Slate’s vendor tooling program across all commodity types — including stamped metal, castings, extrusions, and soft trim — from tool award through production runoff and PPAP approval.
• Track tooling build status and milestone adherence, conduct tool trials and first article inspections, evaluate dimensional and process capability data from tool-sourced parts, and drive corrective action on tooling-related non-conformances.
• Oversee Slate’s tooling asset register, coordinate Engineering Change implementation at the tool level, support capacity verification activities, and partner with Purchasing and Program Management to protect tooling budgets and timing.
• In a lead capacity, guide less experienced SQEs on tooling evaluation methods and supplier engagement strategies.

Skills

Tooling engineering

Supplier quality

Mold & Die Design

GD&T interpretation

CMM data analysis

Problem solving (8D)

Project leadership

Communication skills

Integrity

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

GD&T drawings

Die/Mold design prints

Capability studies (Cpk, Ppk)

Job description

Slate is seeking a Senior Supplier Tooling Engineer-Stamping to own vendor tooling across stamping, casting, extrusion and soft trim. You will manage tool awards, runoff readiness, PPAP and drive improvements with a focus on quality and on-time launches.

Lead and mentor SQEs, track milestones, evaluate capability data, and protect tooling budgets. This role requires strong communication and a proven auto industry track record in tooling and supplier quality.